Manhole covers explode all the time. But I can't remember any that sent up a 15-foot tower of cackling flames and gas in the middle of the West Village. Somewhere in the sewer is a dragon with a Jiffy Pop.

Redditor dbs176 spotted the conflagration on New Year's day at the corner of Bleeker and Leroy, which is a well-traveled corner! It doesn't appear that anybody was hurt, aside from whatever mythological creatures were romping below. Thank goodness there were no urban historians in the area. [Reddit via The Daily What]